Lakehead University and Midland Cultural Centre team up to offer “The Lakehead Challenge”

Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Vice-Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives at Lakehead University, will be one of the panel members at the inaugural event of The Lakehead Challenge – a new conversation series presented by the Midland Cultural Centre and Lakehead University Orillia. 

March 12, 2015 – Orillia, ON 

Lakehead University has partnered with the Midland Cultural Centre (MCC) to offer a new conversation series, The Lakehead Challenge, which will feature experts and community leaders in discussions about current issues.

“We’re excited to work with Lakehead University to offer this new public forum where the audience will have the opportunity to discuss critical and controversial issues,” said Fred Hacker, Chair of the MCC Board of Directors, who initiated the series along with Lakehead Orillia’s Dean & Vice-Provost, Dr. Kim Fedderson, as well as Lakehead faculty members. 

“The idea is to encourage creative thinking and questioning through a panel presentation followed by discussion,” explained Fedderson. “The MCC is such a wonderful centre – it gives us a chance to bring together some of our exceptional teachers and researchers with members of the community in settings beyond our campus.”

The series kicks off on Wednesday, March 25 at the MCC with a talk focusing on Indigenous-Canadian Relations: Governance, Economic Development and Cultural Boundaries.  Featured panel members include Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Vice-Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives at Lakehead University, Ogimaa Duke Peltier of Wiikwemkoong Anishinabek, and Joseph Tokwiro Norton, retired Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Douglas West, Associate Professor of Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies at Lakehead University Orillia.

Tickets for The Lakehead Challenge are $10/person and can be purchased at the MCC box office (333 King Street, Midland); online at midlandculturalcentre.com; or by calling 705-527-4420. The event begins at 7:30 pm on March 25; doors open at 7 pm. 

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact:

Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer, Lakehead Orillia – 705-330-45008 ext.2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

Shelby Mulligan, Marketing Manager, Midland Cultural Centre – 705-527-4420 ext.3403 or shelby@midlandculturalcentre.com.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Midland Cultural Centre combines art, music, theatre, events and a café, all in one outstanding building in downtown Midland, Ontario. Come and attend a performance, a workshop, a concert, an art show or stop by our licensed café for lunch. Tours of the building are available. There’s something for everyone at the MCC. For information about events and to purchase tickets, visit www.midlandculturalcentre.com